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Phoenix Cheap (or FREE!) Thrills

1. Phoenix Art Museum

9.3
1625 N Central Ave (at E McDowell Rd.), Phoenix, AZ
Art Museum · 107 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: Wednesdays 3-9pm and First Friday 6-10pm, admission to the museum is FREE! Be a good museum-goer and throw a few bucks in the donation box if you can.

2. Arizona Science Center

8.5
600 E Washington St, Phoenix, AZ
Science Museum · Copper Square · 99 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: The best time to come is Adults' Night Out, every First Friday 5:30-9pm. Admission is FREE, there's a free lecture, and they don't let kids in the building!

3. Arizona Falls

5802 E Indian School Rd (at N 56th St.), Phoenix, AZ
Other Great Outdoors · Camelback East · 5 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: The Falls are one of the best-kept secrets in Phoenix. All the rushing water is very soothing, and there's rarely another soul around.

4. Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center

6.7
3131 S Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ
Hiking Trail · South Mountain · 5 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: This place is for the birds. Literally. It's a great stop for you, too, and free to visit. Go on Third Thursday 5:30-7:30pm for Birds 'n Beer, with cheap Four Peaks brew and adult science lectures.

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) is one of Phoenix Cheap (or FREE!) Thrills.

5. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA)

8.4
7374 E 2nd St (W of Goldwater Blvd), Scottsdale, AZ
Art Museum · Downtown Scottsdale · 24 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: Free admission all day Thursday! Be sure to check out James Turrell's skyspace "Knight Rise", one of just a few Turrell skyspaces open to the public.

6. Japanese Friendship Garden

8.7
1125 N 3rd St (N of Roosevelt St), Phoenix, AZ
Garden · Roosevelt · 21 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: A stroll through this magnificent garden is well worth the $5 admission. Or, get membership for $30 and you can bring a friend for a whole year!

7. Hole in the Rock

8.8
Papago Park, Phoenix, AZ
Mountain · Camelback East · 24 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: The rock scramble up to the hole is surprisingly short, and the view both ways is magnificent.

8. Fountain Park

8.7
12925 N Saguaro Blvd, Fountain Hills, AZ
Park · 34 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: Every hour on the hour (weather permitting), watch a jet of water shoot 300 feet in the air. During festivals, it goes 650 feet! Bellagio it ain't, but it's still worth a stop if you're in the area.

9. Chase Field

8.8
401 E Jefferson St (btwn S 4th & S 7th St), Phoenix, AZ
Baseball Stadium · Copper Square · 272 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: Did you know you can take a guided behind-the-scenes walking tour of Chase Field? It's only $7, and tours are available year-round except Sundays and event days.

10. Compass Arizona Grill

7.2
122 N 2nd St (in Hyatt Regency Phoenix), Phoenix, AZ
American Restaurant · Copper Square · 29 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: Dessert and coffee at Compass is an affordable luxury that's sure to impress the daylights out of anyone you bring. Fair warning: Your dinner dollars are better spent elsewhere.

11. Phoenix Public Library - Burton Barr Central Library

8.9
1221 N Central Ave (S of McDowell Rd), Phoenix, AZ
Library · Downtown Phoenix · 34 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: The architecture of this library is spectacular, to say the least. Take a closer look with a FREE tour, every Saturday at 11 AM.

12. Desert Botanical Garden

9.3
1201 N Galvin Pkwy (Btw McDowell Rd & Van Buren St), Phoenix, AZ
Botanical Garden · Camelback East · 146 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: The second Tuesday of every month is FREE admission starting at 1pm. Go catch an amazing sunset!

13. The Attic Ale House

8.3
4247 E Indian School Rd (44th St), Phoenix, AZ
Beer Garden · Camelback East · 54 tips and reviews

JK G.JK Grence: The burger is one of the best in town. Visit on Wednesday for a burger and a draft beer for only $10. It's a screaming deal if ever I saw one.